The United States is a nation facing a profound and fundamental decision - Who are we going to be? The greatest threat to America's enduring legacy of self-determination, self-reliance, and personal responsibility is the people themselves. The crux of our democratic republic is an active, informed, and responsible citizenry. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." - Wendell Phillips

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Greatest Casualty of Politics

Truth, some would have you believe, is an abstract concept,
a gray area that is shaped by one’s point of view, philosophy, or
ideology. Those people are wrong. Truth is an absolute; it is backed by fact
making it impervious to manipulation.
Truth can be inconvenient and unforgiving, even painful and unfair. It is also enlightening and liberating, the
foundation for all things positive.

We have most definitely fallen down the rabbit hole. While honesty was never a strong point for
politicians, new lows are becoming commonplace.
No longer constrained by even the slimmest amount of decency, they have
reached a point where they are perfectly comfortable not just stretching the
truth, but completely ignoring it.
Simply calling them liars would be an understatement as absurdity knows
no bounds. Completely baseless claims are hurled without hesitation, and for
those that lean left, generally without repercussions. Contradiction and hypocrisy go
unchecked. Straight faced and with a
level of disdain detectable in their voices for having to explain their
obviously enlightened perspectives, we are told that the accumulation of
massive national debt is nothing to be concerned with and that the source of
all our problems is the wealthy not
paying enough in taxes. If it weren’t
such a sad commentary on the current state of our national awareness, it would
be comical, instead it is infuriating. A
frustration born of the complete loss of truth, logic, and accountability that
far too few seem to feel. Our elected
officials do what we allow them to, they do what we respond to, they do what we
let them get away with. To see the
magnitude of fools we have become, all we need to do is look at the no holds
barred and the ends justifies the means environment our nation’s capital has
become; a place where noble things like character, truth, honor, and respect
have become casualties in an ever escalating campaign of ruthless power grabs.

Effective change cannot take place until the truth is
revealed and accepted. Delaying the
inevitable is not worth the effort as the longer the wait the more painful the
road back. While denial is a powerful
and convenient distraction, it is also one of the greatest contributing factors
to our nation’s recent decline. We
continue to allow ourselves to be blissfully preoccupied by politicians telling
us we have nothing to worry about and that nothing is our fault. In spite of our best efforts at drinking this
Kool-Aid, the irresistible force of reality continues on. Debt piles up at a record pace, government
programs are full speed ahead toward bankruptcy, and we have to come to accept a
new normal of high unemployment, stagnant wages, and diminishing buying
power. Regardless of the socialist
utopian fairytale that the current administration unremittingly peddles in order
to pander to our increasingly selfish and entitled electorate, the truth of its
inherent self-destructive nature can be ignored for only so long before the facade
is erased by the harsh reality of having to deal with its inescapable ramifications.
Truth will not be denied and when it
comes crashing through it does so without regard, without feeling and concern
as to where the chips may fall or the devastation wrought. It is what it is no
matter the result.

In politics, the
allowable amount of truth exposed is determined by what the voters will
accept. Facts and supporting evidence
don’t carry the appropriate weight because of the previously mentioned
possibility of pain. Who wants to hear
truth when the nonsense is oh so much more comforting? Those that are the bearers of bad news,
regardless of how true it is, are punished with reputations as cynics and summarily
dismissed. Those that manufacture the
rosiest outlook, regardless of the absence of truth, are rewarded with election
and reelection. Realistic solutions and expectations
be damned, we want the endlessly recycled rhetoric about how great a nation we
are and how we deserve ever better futures.
We prefer lies because the reality we are responsible for pales in
comparison to what many a politician promises their next new program or
regulation will produce. It is easier to
accept the fabricated then to get to work on fixing the real.

And the truth shall set you free, so it is not surprising
the government is not keen on letting it out.
The closest we come to hearing it is during those rare moments where elected officials let their guard down long enough to expose themselves over an unnoticed open microphone. When government feels no obligation to be honest with the citizens, we
get the daily examples of ever escalating ridiculousness and secrecy we see
today. How else could someone feel
confident enough to argue that incurring massive debt is not a bad thing, but
cutting debt spending is? Truth can be
very damaging, especially when it is contrary to your vision. When the key to your crusade, your effort to
fundamentally change the nation, is to deny the greatness and unmatched success
of the system you are attempting to replace, truth will not see the light of
day. Facts are the enemy, so they must
be drowned in a sea of misdirection.
Making this task easier is a host of obedient supporters that mindlessly
recite prepared talking points and arbitrarily dismiss any evidence or
arguments that counter the shared vision.
Couple this with a press all too willing to help spread the word for the
cause and the propaganda machine will do its damnedest to see the only truth spread
is their version of it. Not the best
situation for a society dependent on information to remain free and yet not
overly concerned with seeking it out.

There aren’t too many occupations where one could amass a
reputation for dishonesty and remain employed.
Interestingly enough members of either house of the US Congress and the
President of the United States are not subject to such lofty expectations. How strange that those residing in positions
of such importance and leadership are actually held to a lower standard. It is even stranger that we complain about
this growing trend and yet it is our abandonment as regulators of government
that has allowed our current national situation to degrade to a point where
liars and leaders are one in the same.
Our acceptance of completely unacceptable behavior is proving to be one
of our many Achilles’ heels. When truth
is no longer a priority, what comes next?
What will be the next moral standard to be cast aside because we are simply
no longer interested enough to make the effort to protect it? A nation that tolerates the denial of truth
for the soothing effects provided by the lie, will not long continue to enjoy the
freedom of self-rule that is only possible through truth. Deceit is suppression, for it is only
necessary when the truth isn’t convenient or cooperative. If we no longer expect our leaders to be
accountable to us, then why should we go through all of the effort of an
election? Perhaps a national auction is
more appropriate. The one with the best
story and that makes the most grandiose promises is rewarded with our votes. How foolish of me, we’re already there.

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